Present: McCarrier, Teale, Madigan, Weir, Merrill, Meeker, Hunjadi, Victorson
Notified Absent: Kurtz, Zurbuchen, Schilder
Absent Without 48-hour Notice: TeStroete
Guests: Mark Playman, Russ Picard

Meeting called to order by President Meeker at 12:07 PM The two guests were introduced. Introductions of all board members were completed.

Motion by Teale second by Weir to accept meeting minutes as written. All in favor.

Officers Reports:

President: President Meeker wished to recognize Jan Victorson and Dan Kurtz for their years of service to the Association with both of them serving at various times as president. Victorson has been a board member of the association for over ten years. Kurtz will have completed his three year term in the next few months. This is the last meeting for both of them.

Vice-President: None

Secretary/Treasurer: None

Executive Manager: Don Hunjadi reported that our new web site and URL domains have been registered and are operational. Both "WisconsinEMS.com" and "wemsa.com" have been registered to the Wisconsin EMS Association for two years. Both addresses are active on the web and will deliver the user to the exact same pages. E-mail will only work to "WisconsinEMS.com".

Hunjadi reviewed the 1998 operating budget and provided information and analysis regarding the budget and ending financials for 1998.

Our old 486/66 laptop has had a hard drive failure. The machine is worth less than $50 or is worthless in its current condition. Because laptops hold a bit more value than a desktop, Hunjadi recommends we replace the hard drive for an approximate price of $200. Motion by McCarrier second by Victorson to replace the hard drive on the 486/66 laptop computer All if favor. Motion carried.

Division Reports:

Conference Division:
Working Together In EMS: Meeker presented the latest conference information. Approximately 1,050 total participants are registered at this time. Total attendance appears to be off 75-100 people over last year at this time. Staffing is still needed for Friday and Saturday. Any board members that have not provided their registration are requested to do so immediately. Meeker discussed the latest changes within the Four Points Hotel and their staff.

CQI Workshop: The workshop currently has approximately 20 people registered as of this date. All contracts are signed and advertising has begun. Two ads have ran in EMS Professionals. A mailer has been sent to all ambulance services and hospital emergency departments in Wisconsin. Working Together participants are receiving a flyer for the CQI workshop with their confirmation letter. No other actions are needed from the board at this time.

Legislative Division:
Don Hunjadi and Forbes McIntosh have been registered for the 1999-2000 session as lobbyists for the Association. Cost was nearly $1,000 for this registration. It was required for Don Hunjadi to become registered as a lobbyist because he is employed by the association and will meet with legislators at our request more than three days every six months.

OLD BUSINESS

One Paramedic: A meeting was held between the medical director and leadership of Wisconsin Dells Ambulance and Rich Meeker and Don Hunjadi. The meeting was held to explore the potential pilot of a one-paramedic system in the Dells area. The Dells leadership appeared interested but needed to discuss this decision at their next governmental meeting. The meeting was to have taken place prior to our board meeting but did not. They will report to us as soon as their rescheduled meeting is completed.

Length of Service Awards: Meeker, Hunjadi, and McIntosh met with the President and one officer of the Wisconsin Fire Chief's Association in Marshfield. A very productive discussion was held with the main agenda item to persuade the Fire Chief's Association to amend their length of service awards bill to include EMTs. The Fire Chief's Association board of directors then voted several weeks later to add EMTs to the bill which has now been done. The Wisconsin EMS Association will be participating with the bill in a supporting role.

Fire & EMS Legislative Coalition: Hunjadi and McIntosh made a presentation to the members of the Fire & EMS Legislative Coalition at a meeting held in Madison on December 15, 1998. It appears there is concern from some of the members of the coalition that WEMSA supports and has private ambulance services as members. Complete and accurate information was provided to the members of the coalition which showed the actual break-down of members as to level of training and service make-up, as well as our mission statement and the fact that we do not advocate one type of delivery system over another. The Coalition is expected to vote on the Association's request to join the Coalition at their next meeting.

First Responder Legislation: Hunjadi and McIntosh met with Representative Duwayne Johnsrud and his staff regarding our desire to have him introduce legislation that would require DHFS to certify Wisconsin first responders. The meeting was very successful with both our association and Johnsrud having very similar in their goals for such legislation. Since the meeting, Johnsrud's office has requested that the Wisconsin EMS Association provide the draft language for the bill rather than allowing LRB staff to do it completely on their own using only our bullet points. Hunjadi will work on the draft. Teale also volunteered assistance but was unsure if he could complete a draft as fast as Jonsrud's office is looking for it - which is ASAP.

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD): The American Heart Association has been in contact with us several times regarding the PAD bill. At this point LRB has not yet released the first draft of the bill. Forbes McIntosh helped AHA identify sponsors of the bill in both houses.

Background Checks: Several groups and associations are combining their efforts for comment at the up-coming hearings for the background check rules. McIntosh will be providing a draft response for our approval. Items discussed and agreed upon that the WEMSA board wants to include in our response are:
1. Reduce the amount of level I crimes by placing all but the five legislative listed crimes in level II
2. Develop a separate list of crimes for EMS
3. Show 5 years licensed as an EMT as evidence of rehabilitation
4. Allow the employer more flexibility in determining employment eligibility

Board Member Standards: Mark Madigan distributed a draft of standards for the board to review. Discussion about changing attendance to read "fails to attend 75% of meetings over any consecutive 12 month period." Further discussion that reviews would be made in closed session. Motion by Teale second by Merrill to approve the draft as amended. All in favor, motion carried.

Appoint of Replacement Board Members: Motion by McCarrier, second by Victorson to move into closed session to discuss appointments. All in favor, motion carried.

Motion by Madigan Second by McCarrier to return to open session. All if favor, motion carried

Motion by Merrill second by Madigan to appoint Paul Blount to fill a one year un-expired term. All in favor, motion carried. Blount's term will expire in April, 2000. Motion by Victorson second by Madigan that the board look at the representation of the association and attempt to identify potential candidates for the next board of directors election. All in favor, motion carried.

Spring Planning Session: A discussion was held as to the necessity of holding a strategic planning session to update the association's goals and objectives. Consensus is to survey board members on their thoughts regarding holding a strategic planning session with potential dates to be May 15 & 16 or May 22 & 23. Board members will also be surveyed to obtain their preference for a location from the following sites: Wausau, Milwaukee, Portage, Madison.

NEW BUSINESS

The 1999 operating budget was presented. Line items were explained and discussed. Gross income budget is proposed at $143,700. Expense budget is proposed at $138,655. This operating budget does not include budget items for the conference division, only a line item for conference profit that is transferred to the main budget and accounts. Motion by Madigan, Second by Teale to approve the budget as presented. All in favor, motion carried.

Annual Meeting: The association plans to provide additional information Friday morning regarding all of the legislative and administrate rules that are in the works. Topics will include license fees, length of service awards bill, PAD bill, first responder legislation, seat belt legislation, EMT-I and EMT-P curriculums, revised rules for all levels of Wisconsin EMTs, new web site and list server. This should take about ten minutes to complete. The annual meeting agenda will include a financial and association data review. EMT license fees, changes to a grant process for Funding Assistance Program funds, election of board members, and participation in board meetings by members.

1999 Meeting Locations: Motion by Merrill, second by Teale to hold the April 11, 1999 board meeting in Wisconsin Dells, July 11, 1999 in Stevens Point and October 10, 1999 in Wisconsin Dells. All in favor, motion carried.

1999 Awards: Results of the judge's scoring were provided to all board members in attendance. Motion by McCarrier, second by Victorson to confirm Clintonville Area Ambulance as the 1999 Service of the Year. All in favor, motion carried. Judge's scoring for the EMT of the Year resulted in a tie between two candidates. Hunjadi read both candidate's nominations to the board. After a small amount of discussion there was a motion by Victorson second by Teale to confirm Alvin Wright as the 1999 EMT of the Year. All in favor, motion carried. There was a tie between two candidates for the Educator of the Year award. Hunjadi again read both nominations to the board. Motion by Madigan, Second by Victorson to confirm Dr. Kenneth Kidd as the 1999 Educator of the Year. Six in favor, two abstain, motion carried.

Several board members expressed comments regarding the amount and level of candidates that were nominated for various awards. General discussion developed over the awards process and its shortcomings. The board will revisit the topic of providing awards at the up-coming strategic planning session.

EMS Memorial: Steve Teale brought up the National EMS Memorial and our potential to affiliate with it. Not much information was known about this organization. Hunjadi will attempt to research and present information on the National EMS Memorial for further discussion at the April meeting.

Motion by Teale second by McCarrier to adjourn the meeting. All in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM.

Action Items:

Action Item status from November, 1998: